Swan says government open to business tax reform

“I expect there to be a lot of discussion as to what we can do to assist businesses” ... Treasurer Wayne Swan.
Photo: Erin Jonasson

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the government is open to the idea of reform to assist businesses hit by the high Australian dollar.

Ahead of this week's jobs forum in Canberra, manufacturing unions have called for tax breaks for mining and construction companies that use local products.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union spokesman Dave Oliver said the benefits of the mining boom should be spread to other industries.

"We want to get more bounce out of the mining boom and get more local content into these resource projects," he said, adding it was unacceptable that there was only 10 per cent local content in mining projects.

The Future Jobs Forum on Thursday will look at opportunities and challenges ahead, as well as ways industry sectors can work together. Mr Swan told reporters in Canberra the government was interested in business tax reform and wanted it to be discussed in depth at the tax forum on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Many businesses that are subject to very big structural pressures in our economy may need some relief in terms of what can be done to recognise their losses and so on," he said.

"I expect there to be a lot of discussion as to what we can do to assist businesses who are being impacted, particularly by the high Aussie dollar, to restructure.